Why is suicide the leading killer of older adolescent girls?

In May and June, 2015, media outlets around the world reported a devastating new finding that shocked the public and public health researchers alike. The Telegraph, Guardian, and National Public Radio all published articles highlighting the fact that suicide had surpassed maternal mortality as the leading cause of death among girls aged 15–19 years globally. This article, published in The Lancet, looks at what the causes are behind these shocking statistics.